The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-04-12


boarding-place further down town.
He left Mrs. Norton's, and only called
to see me in the evenings, and we be-
gan to write to each other. l have the
little notes he wrote me carefully hid
den away even now.
They are very precious to me. AS L
read them over they bring those hours
back again and am a young and low
ing girl once more.
never loved Harry more tenderly
than when | sat down to my desk one
morning to tell him of little festlvity
which | had been invited to attend.
and to ask his escort. / never shall
forget that day. After | had posted
the letter | sat in my room and sewed
upon the pretty dress | intended to
wear, thinking all the while that it was
Harry's favoritc color and that he
would be sure to like it.
Ellie, happy in her recovered lover'
sat with me and read aloud from lit
lie book of verses Charlie had given
her. They were not fine verses, nor
was she an elegant reader, but there
was love in them and in her heart, and
that suiliced.
| had finished the dress, and sat look
ing down into the street, when l saw
boy hurrying along. 1t was the GRAND
boy at Harry's place, and Ellie who had
seen him also, ran downstairs to bring
nv note to me, for we both knew that
it was my answer that shimmcred in
the little white envelope in my hand.
She ran down gayly, humming a tune.
She returned with a very serious face.
A note was in her hand, with my name
upon it in Harry's writing, but her eX-
preston frightened me so that caught
my breath.
What is it, Eilie," | asked.
Ethel" she said, very sadly, 81
must tell you, though you'll hate me.
The boy who brought that note brought
one for Mrs. Bray"
| was so relieved that | burst into a
fit of laughter.
"Why should that trouble meP" l
inquired.
Don't you see your Harry must have
written bothP" she asked.
NO" said ], 81 do not. / am not
jealous of Harry"
Then broke the seal, and these were
the words read:
MADAME. have another engagement, and
am obliged to decline yours.
II. HEATncoTR
| put the old billet down with II
strange chill at my heart. What had
| done to deserve this? What did 1t
mean? What should | do? A note
like this from a betrothed lover from
whom had parted with the tcnderest
caresses? Efie saw that | was in
trouble and forebore to question me,
but she glided out of the room and did
not return for an hour. When she
came back her face was wet with tears
"You cannot tell me what it isP"
she asked.
answered.:
IL must have offended him uncun-
sciously. can tsay anything more. "
When the dinner bell rang l went
down stairs as usual. Passing the
parlor door saw Mrs. Bray. She was
reading note aloud.
II declare, / never was SO sun
prised," she said. II thought he was
in love with that little girl. All! there
she comes.
She hurried away as she spoke, in as
sumed terror. The next moment
saw Efiic speak to her and a white
paper pass into her hand Whatever
it was she knew and she would tell me.
She did. That evening she brought a
letter into my room-a letter that Mrs.
Bray had exhibited to all the house-a
loye-letter from Harry Hcathcote, ten
derer aud more passionate than any
he had ever written to me. and with
his undoubted signature at its foot. II
was no forgery. / even knew the
paper, rare and costly kind, with his
own monogram upon it, 1t began
Darling and ended "Your own
Harry" did not scream. / did not
swoon: | faced the terrible truth as
best / might. She had won him from
me, but was nowise to blame. l was
,rue was sinned AGAINST. not sin.